
An experimental “seaweed” drug called Oligomannate, which treats Alzheimer’s, is now available for patients to buy in China. Chinese officials announced conditional approval to the seaweed-based drug in November. Oligomannate is the first drug to be approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s in 17 years.
Full Answer
Can Chinese Medicine treat Alzheimer’s disease?
Those Alzheimer’s patients given the individual Chinese medicine treatments improved in 71% of the cases, while 20% of the cases worsened. Among those Alzheimer’s patients given the donepezil, 56% improved and 35% worsened.
How many people in China have Alzheimer's disease?
Dementia affects an estimated 50 million people worldwide, including 9.5 million people in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Named after Alois Alzheimer, the neuropathologist who discovered the disease in 1906, it has so far confounded researchers and pharmaceutical companies.
Does TCM work for Alzheimer’s disease?
“TCM treatment based on syndrome differentiation is effective in improving cognitive function of patients with mild to moderate AD and increasing the brain function by increasing connectivity between posterior cingulated gyrus and specific areas in the brain.”
What is the history of dementia in China?
The earliest records of memory loss in ancient China can be traced back 2000 years earlier. In TCM, dementia can be attributed mainly to the Brain dystrophy, Spleen-Kidney weakness, Blood stasis, and Phlegm stagnation.

What plant cures Alzheimer's disease?
Yerba santa, a plant with a long history of medicinal use in its native California, contains an active compound that could treat people with Alzheimer's disease one day. Share on Pinterest New research finds that an extract from the Yerba santa plant may prevent brain cell death in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Can Chinese medicine help dementia?
There are many clinical studies that show that TCM is effective in supporting treatments against dementia.
What is the best over the counter medicine for Alzheimer's?
Prevagen is an over-the-counter (OTC) supplement that claims to support brain health and boost your memory.
What is the best essential oil for Alzheimer's?
Here are 7 of the most beneficial and most commonly used essential oils with regard to dementia:Bergamot. Forgetfulness is one of the most frustrating symptoms for someone with dementia. ... Ginger. Ginger is proving to be a useful agent in fighting the effects of dementia. ... Lavender. ... Lemon Balm. ... Peppermint. ... Rosemary. ... Ylang Ylang.
How can you reverse dementia naturally?
Similarly, dementia can be reversed if caught early enough and by attending to all the factors that affect brain function – including diet, exercise, stress, nutritional deficiencies, toxins, hormonal imbalances, and inflammation.
Is acupuncture good for dementia?
As a non-pharmacological intervention, acupuncture is considered to be a preferable alternative to pharmacotherapy for treating relevant outcomes in dementia such as behavioural disturbances. Furthermore, an increasing number of clinical studies have shown therapeutic effects of acupuncture on patients with VaD.
What are the 3 foods that fight memory loss?
Berries, fish, and leafy green vegetables are 3 of the best foods that fight memory loss. There's a mountain of evidence showing they support and protect brain health.
What is the new Alzheimer's drug?
Medicare finalized its decision to restrict its coverage of Aduhelm, Biogen's new Alzheimer's disease drug, on April 8, 2022. The decision means only patients who have enrolled in clinical trials will receive Medicare coverage for Aduhelm, which goes by the generic drug name of Aducanumab.
What over the counter medicine is good for memory loss?
Ginkgo biloba may be as effective as acetylcholinesterase inhibitor drugs such as donepezil (Aricept). Studies have also indicated that ginkgo biloba may be helpful for cerebral insufficiency, a decreased flow of blood to the brain from clogged blood vessels.
What scent is good for memory?
"Rosemary is known to stimulate the mind and the memory." In research conducted at Northumbria University in the UK, inhaling rosemary essential oil improved both speed and accuracy on demanding mental tasks, and raised memory test scores by more than ten percent.
Is lemon balm good for Alzheimer's?
Lemon balm, a well-known vegetable and medicinal plant from Lamiaceae, has been traditionally used to cure dementia and amnesia (86). Ethanol extract of lemon balm exhibited AChE inhibitory activity (87) with a potency of 1.72±0.16 μg equivalents of physostigmine/mg of the extract.
Which oil is best for memory?
6 Essential Oils To Stimulate The Brain, Boost Mood, Memory &...Rosemary essential oil.Peppermint essential oil.Lemon essential oil.Lavender essential oil.Sage essential oil.Frankincense essential oil.
Several herbs improve memory and cognitive skills
The GETO formula also contains some of these herbs. In a clinical study presented at the First Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Prevention of Dementia in Washington, D.C., 70 Alzheimer’s patients 65 years old and older were given GETO, a placebo or piracetam.
REFERENCES
Ping Liu, Mingwang Kong, Shihe Yuan, Junfeng Liu, and Ping Wang, “ History and Experience: A Survey of Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease ,” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2014, Article ID 642128, 5 pages, 2014. doi:10.1155/2014/642128
Author
Ph.D. in Natural Health Sciences, Doctorate in Integrative Health Sciences, Board Certified Alternative Medicine Practitioner, California Naturopath. Diplomas in Blood Chemistry, Clinical Nutritional Counseling, Homeopathy, Aromatherapy, Colon Hydrotherapy, certificates in Pain Management and Case Management/Contact Tracing.
How to help children with Alzheimer's?
How to Help Children Understand. Children may feel confused, afraid, or even resentful when a family member has Alzheimer’s. Let the child know these feelings are normal and answer their questions about the illness honestly. Help them celebrate happy memories of your loved one.
What is the least likely diet to cause Alzheimer's?
Studies show people who eat a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, fish, and nuts and get plenty of physical activity are the least likely to get Alzheimer’s. prev. next. Reviewed by Gabriela Pichardo on 5/27/2020.
How many people were in phase 3 of Alzheimer's?
A news release published by the company Monday gave details of a phase 3 study, done in 34 hospitals in China, in 818 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Study participants were randomly assigned to receive Oligomannate pills twice a day or a placebo.
How does Alzheimer's affect people?
Alzheimer’s affects concentration , so your loved one may not be able to do ordinary tasks like cooking or paying the bills. A study suggests trouble balancing the checkbook is often one of the first signs of the disease. As symptoms worsen, they may not recognize familiar people or places.
How long does it take for Alzheimer's to go away?
For other people the changes are gradual. It could take 20 years for the disease to run its course. Most people live 3 to 9 years after diagnosis.
Can Alzheimer's patients remember their names?
Many people with Alzheimer’s have trouble remembering names, even of people closest to them. A temporary fix is to put up pictures of people they’re likely to see often or know well with names printed underneath. Eventually, your loved one may no longer recognize faces and may react as if family members are strangers.
Can Alzheimer's cause confusion?
In addition to memory loss, Alzheimer’s can cause confusion and behavior changes. Your loved one may get lost in familiar places. Mood swings and lapses in judgment are also common, as is poor hygiene. People who were once stylish may start wearing stained clothes and forget to wash their hair. 4 / 23.
What is traditional Chinese medicine?
Traditional Chinese medicine for dementia. In Western medicine, dementia refers to a spectrum of diseases affecting cognition, mental health, and physical abilities. Ancient medical literatures of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) also recorded dementia-like symptoms, but described the disease from a totally distinct theoretical point of vi ….
How long has dementia been around?
The earliest records of memory loss in ancient China can be traced back 2000 years earlier.
Is dementia a cognitive disorder?
Of interest, ancient Chinese physicians have proposed that dementia manifests as not only cognitive but also noncognitive symptoms including psychiatric disorders and sleep disturbance, which have been investigated widely nowadays in Western medicine.
How many people are affected by Alzheimer's disease?
Dementia affects an estimated 50 million people worldwide, including 9.5 million people in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
When will oligomannate be available in China?
The company said Oligomannate will be available in China “very soon, ” and it is currently seeking approval to market it abroad, with plans to launch third-phase clinical trials in the US and Europe in early 2020.
Is acetylcholinesterase inhibitor effective?
Vincent Mok, who heads the neurology division at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the new drug showed “encouraging results” when compared to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors – the existing treatment for mild to severe Alzheimer’s. “It is just as effective but it has fewer side effects,” he told CNN. “It will also open up new avenues ...
Does seaweed cause Alzheimer's?
In a paper in the journal Cell Research, Geng’s team described how a sugar contained within seaweed suppresses certain bacteria contained in the gut which can cause neural degeneration and inflammation of the brain, leading to Alzheimer’s.
